Prime Minister Theresa May has has insisted the rollout of Universal Credit will be completed by the 2023 deadline, despite the Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd postponing a parliamentary vote giving her permission to move an additional three million people onto the new system.

Universal Credit has been implemented in stages across Gloucestershire since late 2017, with all councils in the county now rolling out the scheme for new claimants, but it is not without its critics.

Amber Rudd is also reportedly in discussions with Chancellor Philip Hammond to make changes to the government's flagship benefit system.

Speaking in the House on January 8, Cheltenham MP Alex Chalk hoped ministers "will consider the evidence from charities and other experts so that the best possible evidence base is available and we can have the best possible system."

Labour's Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Margaret Greenwood, had been urging the government to end the system's rollout.

She said: "Universal Credit is being used as a vehicle for cuts to social security, pushing many people into poverty, rent arrears and to food banks so will the Secretary of State now stop the rollout?"

Universal Credit

MPs were due to vote on whether to move three million benefit claimants onto Universal Credit in the next few weeks. However this vote was pushed to a later date and MPs will instead be asked to vote on transferring just 10,000 people to the new benefits system.

Ms Rudd told the Commons: "I will want to consider carefully when I bring to the House the vote for the three million managed migration, which is scheduled for 2020. I'm still considering when to do that."

She added: "The 10,000 pilot as always, which was announced some time ago, informs us how we do that."

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It is those on the old benefit system who are caught up in the latest revelations, waiting to hear if they are one of the 10,000 to be switched over to Universal Credit, or whether they will be moved at a later date.

For many, it will add to the anxiety over how much money they are due to receive, and in some circumstances, if their application will even be accepted.

A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions previously told Birmingham Live: "We have long said we will be taking a measured approach to rollout, ensuring the system works for everyone.

"We will begin by supporting 10,000 people onto the benefit from July 2019, providing tailored support throughout the process.

"We will keep Parliament up to date and Universal Credit remains on track to be fully rolled out by 2023."

Amber Rudd (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Speaking in the House of Commons, Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd hinted at pressures from Chancellor Philip Hammond on making further changes to Universal Credit, after Conservative MP Heidi Allen said the five-week waiting period for payments needed to be scrapped.

Ms Rudd said: "There are many contributions to how we can improve Universal Credit, some of them carry quite a big price tag to them, some of them have had more success with the Treasury than others.

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"And I'm looking forward to further conversations with the Chancellor myself in due course."

She also said her department was "prepared for all eventualities after March 29 this year" after she was asked about a no-deal Brexit.